Dual production well packer



5 sheetsheet 1 @www Afro/MEMS BY f7 J. R. BROWN v DUAL PRODUCTION WELL PACKER Jan. 2, 1968 Filed Feb. 4, 1966 Jan, 2, 1968 J. R. BROWN DUAL PRODUCTION WELL PACKER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 4, 1966 INVENTOR.

` dof/a @Row/v J, R. BROWN v DUAL PRODUCTION WELL PAGKER Jan. 2, 1968 Filed Feb. 4, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

United States Patent Oltice 3,361,210 Patented Jan. 2, 1968 3,361,210 DUAL PRQDUCTIN WELL PACKER .l'oe R. Brown, 8490 Katy Road, kousten. Tex. 77024 Filed Feb. 4, 1.966, Sel'. No. 525,226 11 Claims. (Cl. 166-134) The present invention relates to new and useful improvemen-ts in mechanically actuated or weight-set, dualproduction well packers.

The invention is applicable for use in anchor devices, for anchoring well tubing, or tubings or well tools, within the bore of a well.

In the use of well packers and anchors in a dualproduction well bore, it is desirable that the anchoring assembly hold in both directions so the production tubing may be hung from the surface with the tubing strings in tension or compression without disturbing the anchored position of the well tool. Further, it is desirable that the well tool be releasable from its anchored position by manipulation of one of the tubing strings at the surface of the well bore.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a mechanically set Well packer for a dualproduction well which, when set, will remain anchored to hold against movement in both directions but which may be positively released by a manipulation of one of the tubing strings.

Another obiect is to provide a mechanically actuated or weight-set well packer having one-way locking means which retains the well packer in set position by engagement with one tubular support, such means being so constructed that the tubular support which it engages may be rotated relative to the locking means, whereby the rotation of the support will effect release of the well packer.

A further object is to provide a dual-production well packer which is compact in construction with a minimum number of parts and also wherein the one-way locking means which engages one tubular support is mounted within the abutment which is adapted to be moved by the other tubular support to set the well packer.

The construction designed to carry o-ut the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features thereof.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional View of a well packer of the present invention with the various parts of the well packer being shown in unset position;

FIGURE 2 is a similar View illustrating the well packer in set position;

FIGURE 3 is another similar view illustrating the well packer in released position;

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the well packer taken along line 4 4 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the well packer taken along line 5-5 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view of the well packer taken along line 6-6 in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view of the well packer taken along line 7-7 in FIGURE 1.

The dual-production well packer of the present invention as illustrated in the drawings is adapted to be lowered into a well bore, such as dened by the casing C, while supported only by the first tubing string T-1. In FIGURE 1, the well packer is illustrated in running position with the second tubing string T-Z in engagement with the packer. Normally, the second tubing string T-2 will be landed and secured in the well packer after the packer has been lowered to the level at which it is to be set.

The well packer is provided with two tubular supports or mandrels 10 and 12, which communicate with the tubing strings T-l and T-Z, respectively. The packing assembly P and the anchoring assembly A are both mounted on the tubular supports 10 and 12 between the upper abutment 14 and the lower abutment 16.

The tubular support 10 extends through the upper abutment 14 with releasable connecting means, such as shear pin 1S, securing the upper abutment 14 to the tubular support 10 for running into the well bore. The tubular support 12 is threaded into the upper abutment 14. The tubing string T-Z is connected in the bore 20 in upper abut ment 14 by the usual I -slot 22 and pin. 24. Suitable seals and packing are provided to seal against leakage of the uids flowing through tubing string T-2 and tubular support 12. The lower abutment 16 is threadedly connected to the tubular support 1li to provide the release means R by which the well packer may be unset. The tubular support 12 extends through the lower abutment 16 and is free to slide longitudinally with respect thereto.

Since the setting of the well packer is accomplished by reducing the distance between the upper and lower abutments, the upper abutment 14 is free to slide downwardly on tubular support l@ once the pin 18 has been sheared, and a one-way locking means is provided to hold the upper abutment in its lowest or set position with respect to tubular support 10. Such one-way locking means is provided by the retainer plate 26 which surrounds both tubular supports 10 and 12 and has upwardly and outwardly tapered recesses in which the locking slips 23 are positioned. The teeth on locking slips 28 are upwardly directed and engage the outer surface of tubular support itl. The retainer plate 26 is secured to the upper abutment 14 by suitable fastening means, such as screws 30 best seen in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 and shown in dashed lines in an oifset position in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 for a clearer understanding of the operation of the one-way locking means. The locking slips 28 are urged downwardly by the spring 32 which is positioned in a recess in upper abutment 14, and, because of the wedging action with the tapered recesses in which they are positioned, are urged inwardly into egnagement with tubular support 10. The action of spring 32 assures that the teeth of locking slips 2S remain in engagement with tubular support 10 at all times. The teeth on locking slips 28 extend in a generally horizontal direction to allow rotation of tubular support 10 with respect to the locking slips 28 during release as hereinafter more fully explained.

The packing assembly P is positioned around the tubular supports 10 and 12 with the upper packing follower 34 against the lower surface of retainer plate 26. The packing elements 36 are positioned between the upper packing follower 34 and the lower packing follower 38 and in surrounding relation to the tubular supports 10 and 12. The packing elements are of the usual type which, when compressed longitudinally, expand outward into sealing engagement with the interior surface of the casing C and, when released, will return to their normal position surrounding tubular supports 10 and 12.

The anchoring assembly A is positioned between the packing assembly P and the lower abutment 16 and surrounds the tubular supports 10 and 12.` The anchoring assembly A moves into set position with the gripping elements 40 engaging the interior of casing C when the well packer is set. The anchoring assembly A includes the cage 42, the upper expander 44 which is in abutting relationship to lower packing follower 38, the lower expander 46 and the gripping elements 40. The gripping elements 40,

'when moved" to pipe-gripping position, hold the well assisi@ packer against longitudinal movement in both directions. The expanders 44 and 46 have inclined surfaces which en. gage the gripping elements 40 so that movement of the expanders towards the gripping elements i6 moves the gripping elements 40 outwardly into pipe-gripping position. The cage 42. is, releasably secured to the upper expander 44 by shear pins dit so that initial setting movement will move the gripping elements lll in relation to the lower expander 46 before the upper expander 44 moves in relation to the gripping elements dll. As best seen in FIGURE 7, the gripping elements 4@ move outwardly through the windows Sd in the cage 42. The inner portion of each gripping element d@ is provided with ears 5?. which are wider than the window 5d to retain the gripping elements d@ within the anchoring assembly A. Relative rotation of the cage 42 with respect to the lower expander 46 is prevented by the pins 54- which are threaded into lower expander 46 and extend outwardly into the vertical slots 56 in cage 42.

As can be seen from the drawings, the lower abutment 16 and the lower expander 46 are made in one piece but perform the functions of the lower expander to wedge the gripping elements outwardly, of the lower abutment to provide a fixed position in reference to tubular support l0 to allow setting of the well packer by movement of the upper abutment downward and to provide the threaded release means to allow movement of the tubular support lll for unsetting of the well packer. The threaded connection between the lower abutment 16 and the tubular support is preferred to be left-hand, low-friction threads which, during release by rotation of tubing string T-l, do not have a tendency to disconnect sections of the tubing string.

in the running position the anchoring assembly A is held in unset position by the engagement of the external shoulder titl on tubular support l2 with the lower surface of upper expander 44 and by the shear pin 48 connecting cage d2 to upper expander 44. The external shoulder 62 on the tubular support 1) functions on release of the well packer to engage the lower surface of the upper expander 44 to retract the upper expander 44 from under the gripping elements 40. The inner shoulder d4 on cage 42 engages the exterior shoulder 66 on the upper expander 44 during removal of the well packer subsequent to release.

In operation, the well packer is lowered into the well bore or casing C normally on the first tubing string "lll, When the well packer is at the position desired, the second tubing string T-Z is lowered, landed in bore 20 and secured by rotation to effect the positioning of the pin 24 in the J-slot 22. The components of the apparatus are then as shown in FIGURE l.

rThe setting of the well packer is accomplished by holding the rst tubing string T-ll and lowering the second tubing string T 2. This action places the first tubing string T-ll in tension, and the weight of the second tubing string is exerted on the upper abutment. The weight on the upper abutment ld shears the pin 18 and moves the upper abutment 14 downwardly on the tubular support ll). This reduction in the distance between upper and lower abutments sets the anchoring assembly A and the packing assembly P. Because shear pins 48 hold against relative movement between cage 42 and upper expander 44, the gripping elements lll move down on the lower expander i6 until the gripping elements l0 are expanded into engagement with the casing C. Thereafter, the pins 48 shear and the upper expander 44 is moved under the gripping elements to assure pipe-gripping engagement of the gripping elements 40 with the casing.

When the anchoring assembly A is completely set, it forms an abutment against which the weight on the upper abu'tment 14 acts to set the lpacking assembly P. The whole setting action is completed when both the lanchoring and packing assemblies are set. If desired, the first tubing string T-l may be raised to assure that the lower expander 45 is lirmly wedged under the gripping elements 4t).

With the well ypacker set, the engagement of the lockslips 28 with the tubular support l@ prevents upward movement of the upper abutment 14 with respect to the tubular support lli. .Pressure forces on the set well packer are transmitted to the anchoring assembly to assure that the well packer remains set and holds against longitudinal movement in both directions. Pressure below the well paclter is exerted on the packing assembly P and is transmitted through the upper abutment, the locking slips 23 and the tubular support ll) to wedge the lower expander 46 under the gripping elements 40. Pressure above the well packer is exerted on the packing assembly P and transmitted to wedge the upper expander 44 under the gripping elements 4t). This transmission of forces to the gripping elements all assures that the anchoring assembly A will hold against longitudinal movement in both directions. The second tubing string T-Z may be hung in tension or with a par-t or all of its weight on the upper abutment. if any weight of the second tubing string is on the upper abutment i4, this weight will oppose pressure forces from below the well packer.

Release of the well packer is normally accomplished by removal of the second tubing string T-2 and rotation of the first tubing `string TA1 `to actuate the release means, unthread the connection between the tubular support lt) and the lower abutment. initial rotation will move lower abutment 16 y(and lower expander 46) downward to withdraw it from under the gripping elements 40. With the connection released, lifting of tubing string T-l moves shoulder 62 into engagement with upper expander 44 and withdraws upper expander 44 from under gripping elements 4G. The packing elements 36 exert `a force on the upper abutment to raise it with the lifting of tubular support itl. This movement unsets the packing assembly A. With both assemblies unset, the well packer may then be removed from the well bore.

From the foregoing it can be seen that the improved dualaproduction well packer of the present invention is mechanically set and released and, when set, will hold against longitudinal movement in both directions by transmitting forces to the anchor-ing assembly to urge the gripping elements into tighter pipe-gripping engagement with the casing. in this well packer one-way locking means is provided to prevent the upper abutment from moving upwardly with respect to the first tubular support and such locking means allows a rotation of the li-rst tubular support to accomplish the release of the well packer. When set, this well packer allows the tubing strings to which it is attached to be hung in tension.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention are illustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction, may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

A well tool adapted to be lowered and 'set within a dual-production well pipe compnising a iirst tubular support,

a second tubular support,

an upper abutment surrounding said first and second tubular supports, lower abutment surrounding said first and second tubular supports and spaced longitudinally thereon from said upper abutment, an anchoring assembly including gripping elements :mounted on said tubular supports between said abutments, the setting of said anchoring assembly moving said gripping elements of said anchoring assembly into pipe-gripping position with said well pipe to hold against longitudinal movement in both directions, one of said abutments being connected to one of said tubular supports whereby longitudinal movement of said one tubular support moves said one abutment, the other of said abutments being connected to the iother of said tubular supports, and

`one-vvay locking means interposed between said one `abutment and the other of said tubular supports for movement of the said one abutment towards said other abutment and locking said one abutment to said other tubular support to prevent movement of said `one abutment away from said other abutment, movement of said one abutment toward said other abutment setting said packing and anchoring assembly.

2. A well tool according to claim l wherein the other of said abutments is releasably connected to `the other of said tubular supports.

3. A well tool according to claim 2 wherein said releasable connection between said other abutment and said other tubular support comprises a threaded connection, and

lsaid other abutment is rotatable within said one-way locking means of said one abutment to unthread said threaded connection `for unsetting of said anchoring assembly.

4. A well tool according to claim 1 including a packing assembly mounted on said tubular supports between said abutments.

5. A well tool according to claim 1 including means releasably connecting said one abutment to said *other tubular support to hold said Wel-l tool in running position.

6. A Well tool adapted to be lowered and set within a dual-production well pipe comprising a first tubular support,

a second tubular support,

an upper abutment surrounding said iirst and second tubular supports,

a lower abut-ment surrounding said first and second tubular supports and spaced longitudinally thereon lfrom said upper abutment,

an anchoring assembly including gripping elements mounted on said tubular supports between said abutmen-ts,

the setting of said anchoring assembly moving said gnipping elements of said anchoring assembly into pipeegripping position with said well pipe to hold against longitudinal movement in both directions,

said upper abutment being connected to said second tubular support whereby lowering of said second tubular support moves said upper abutment down- `wardly on said irst tubular support towards said lower abutment,

said lower abutment being connected t-o said first tubular support, and

oneway lock-ing means interposed between said upper abutment and said rst tubular support for movement of said upper abutment downwardly and locking said upper abutment against movement upwardly lon said rst tubular support,

downward movement of said upper abutment setting said anchoring assembly.

7. A well tool according to claim d wherein the connection between said lower abutment and said first tubular support is a releasable connection actuated by rot'ation of said first tubular support for unisetting of said anchoring assembly.

8. A well tool accord-ing to claim d including a packing assembly mounted `on said tubular supports `between said abutments.

9. A well tool according to claim 6 including means releasably connecting said upper abutment to said rst tubular support to hold said well tool in running position.

la, A well tool according to claim 6 wherein said oneway locking means includes a retainer plate having inclined recesses surrounding *said first tubular support, and

locking slips positioned in said recesses and having upwardly diredted teeth preventing upward movement of said upper abutment relative to said tirs-t tubulal support.

11.. A well tool according to claim 10 including means urging said locking means downwardly in said yinclined recesses to assure continued engagement with said rst tubular support.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,999,543 9/1961 Myers 166-189 X 3,115,185 12/1963 Brown 166-119 3,166,127 1/1965 Brown et al. 166--189 3,167,127 1/1965 Sizer 166-189 3,311,170 3/1967 Brown 165-189 JAMES A. LEPPINK, Primary Examiner. 

1. A WELL TOOL ADAPTED TO BE LOWERED AND SET WITHIN A DUAL-PRODUCTION WELL PIPE COMPRISING A FIRST TUBULAR SUPPORT, A SECOND TUBULAR SUPPORT, AN UPPER ABUTMENT SURROUNDING SAID FIRST AND SECOND TUBULAR SUPPORTS, A LOWER ABUTMENT SURROUNDING SAID FIRST AND SECOND TUBULAR SUPPORTS AND SPACED LONGITUDINALLY THEREON FROM SAID UPPER ABUTMENT, AN ANCHORING ASSEMBLY INCLUDING GRIPPING ELEMENTS MOUNTED ON SAID TUBULAR SUPPORTS BETWEEN SAID ABUTMENTS, THE SETTING OF SAID ANCHORING ASSEMBLY MOVING SAID GRIPPING ELEMENTS OF SAID ANCHORING ASSEMBLY INTO PIPE-GRIPPING POSITION WITH SAID WELL PIPE TO HOLD AGAINST LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT IN BOTH DIRECTIONS, ONE OF SAID ABUTMENTS BEING CONNECTED TO ONE OF SAID TUBULAR SUPPORTS WHEREBY LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT OF SAID ONE TUBULAR SUPPORT MOVES SAID ONE ABUTMENT, THE OTHER OF SAID ABUTMENTS BEING CONNECTED TO THE OTHER BY SAID TUBULAR SUPPORTS, AND ONE-WAY LOCKING MEANS INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID ONE ABUTMENT OF THE OTHER OF SAID TUBULAR SUPPORTS FOR MOVEMENT OF THE SAID ONE ABUTMENT TOWARDS SAID OTHER ABUTMENT AND LOCKING SAID ONE ABUTMENT TO SAID OTHER TUBULAR SUPPORT TO PREVENT MOVEMENT OF SAID ONE ABUTMENT AWAY FROM SAID OTHER ABUTMENT, MOVEMENT OF SAID ONE ABUTMENT TOWARD SAID OTHER ABUTMENT SETTING SAID PACKING AND ANCHORING ASSEMBLY. 